Blog archive
June 2023
Bridget Brewster Discovers Village Benefits
06/04/2023
Rumor of Humor #16
06/04/2023
Communications Project with Cal State LA
06/02/2023
Creative Aging
06/01/2023
May 2023
One Villager's Story
05/31/2023
Pasadena Area Liberal Arts Center
05/31/2023
Pasadena Village Responds to Rainbow Flag Burning at Pasadena Buddhist Temple
05/31/2023
Plan Ahead - And Be Prepared
05/31/2023
Tuesday, May 23 Pasadena Celebrated Older Americans
05/31/2023
Reparations, Social Justice Activity
05/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #14
05/19/2023
Rumor of Humor #13
05/12/2023
Issue #12
05/09/2023
Science Monday - Review of Meeting on April 10, 2023
05/09/2023
Conversations Re African American Artists Before 1920
05/08/2023
Beyond the Village – Suzi and Phil Hoge
05/01/2023
Congratulations Wayne April! Honored at UNH
05/01/2023
Table Topics
05/01/2023
Volunteer Appreciation at the Village
05/01/2023
“ACCIDENTAL HOST—The Story of Rat Lungworm Disease”
05/01/2023
April 2023
Jumbo Joy
04/24/2023
Pasadenans Recent Experience With Racism
04/23/2023
Recent Events Reflecting Racism
04/23/2023
Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
04/18/2023
Photography for Social Justice
04/11/2023
Issue #8
04/07/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Catherine Deely
04/06/2023
Creative Writing in Older Adults
04/06/2023
Gifts of Love
04/06/2023
March 2023
Issue #7
03/31/2023
Issue #6
03/26/2023
Great Decisions update
03/14/2023
Dominion Lawsuit, South Africa and 710 Stub
03/08/2023
February 2023
2023 DEI Progress
02/27/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Doug Colliflower
02/26/2023
CONVERSATIONS WITH ART
02/26/2023
GREAT DECISIONS
02/26/2023
OLDER ADULTS RESOURCE FAIR
02/26/2023
The Important, Influential Books in our Lives - Revisited
02/26/2023
History, Resolution of the 710 Freeway
02/19/2023
Eminent Domain, 710 Highway
02/13/2023
Bernard Garrett, 710 Freeway
02/06/2023
Men's Times Gatherings
02/03/2023
January 2023
Pasadena's Senior Commission
01/30/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - JIM HENDRICK
01/27/2023
GRATITUDE - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!
01/27/2023
JEFF GUTSTADT - FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
01/27/2023
Bernard Garrett, Incredible Black Entrepreneur
01/17/2023
What is the "Spirit Talk" Group About?
01/16/2023
Same Ol’ New Year, Brand New Me
01/12/2023
Review of 2022, Consideration of 2023
01/06/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - PATTI LA MARR
01/03/2023
FROM THE CHAIR
01/03/2023
WALK WITH EASE
01/03/2023
Jumbo Joy
By Karen BagnardPosted: 04/24/2023
As I shuffle my slippery new deck of cards, I feel joy! Chelsea bought me new cards… the ones with jumbo numbers and letters. There are two decks in a pack, one red and one blue. I chose the red ones to use first. Red is my favorite color. It’s the color of the Danish flag, Yule Nisse, the cherry on top, my favorite lipstick, my dad’s favorite cufflinks that fascinated me as a kid.
As I’m shuffling and dealing… BTW, I’m addicted to Solitaire… I realize how happy I can get over a new deck of cards. Who else gets this happy over a deck of cards? Melania Trump? I doubt it!
My addiction to Solitaire is not just an idle sport. It’s a meditative practice. I use it to relax and take a break or to avoid doing something I don’t want to do. It’s thinking time for me… and planning time, too. Sadly, it’s also a barometer of my vision loss, as well. I used to be able to see red vs. black and diamonds vs. spades. Now, even with jumbo print, I have to be a bit more careful. I make lots of mistakes but, whenever possible, I give myself grace… correct the mistake and keep playing. Someday, I may not be able to play anymore so I don’t feel guilty about this.
Playing Solitaire with my jumbo deck affords me time to do some creative thinking about my art, my socializing, my work with Journey House, my family, and so on. I spend time with thoughts of gratitude, as I play. Sometimes I even keep pen and paper close by to make notes.
Jumbo joy comes to me at other times, too. In my patio swing on a sunny day or my front porch bistro table or the backyard bench by the treehouse. Jumbo joy is the feeling I get when I think about the small things in life that bring me so much joy… like friends, family, bird songs, parrot fly-overs, the sounds of people having fun at Farnsworth Park… and, of course, memories. Even memories of old loves that ended badly… even they have good times to remember. Maybe some of those old guys are still out there somewhere remembering those same times! Who knows? Maybe!
I can’t help but wonder what brings jumbo joy to Melania. Is it the gold toilets, the ridiculously expensive clothes she wears, all those good times with the Donald, her son? Maybe she enjoys bird songs, too! And parrot fly-overs. Maybe she plays Solitaire and enjoys it as much as I do! I’m just sayin’… maybe.
Whatever jumbo joy is, it comes to me regularly. It’s knowing I am loved and worthy and gifted. It’s knowing that losing my vision is opening new doors. It’s knowing my life is full. It’s having friends who will listen to what I write!